The Labubu Craze: Cute Collectible or Creepy Cult Toy?

Shalena
Jul 25
3 min read

Let’s talk about it. These strange little creatures with wide eyes, devilish grins, and plush pastel fur are everywhere right now. They’re dangling from influencer handbags, popping up in TikTok hauls, and reselling for rent money on eBay.

They're called Labubu dolls—and the hype is real.

But here’s the question on everyone’s lips: What the heck are they? Why are people losing their minds over them? And are they… demonic?? Why are people saying that??

Let me break it down for you.

What Is a Labubu Anyway?

Labubu is the brainchild of Kasing Lung, a Hong Kong-based artist who created the character as part of a fantasy series called The Monsters. Imagine a mischievous forest creature—a little bit rabbit, a little bit goblin, a little bit Tim Burton fever dream.

Labubu first appeared in designer vinyl toy collections by POP MART, a massive toy company dominating the Asian art toy market. Since then, Labubu has morphed into everything from keychains and blind box collectibles to plush dolls in fuzzy pastel suits.

Think Be@rbrick meets Hello Kitty—with fangs.

When Did the Hype Start?

Labubu has been around since 2019 in China and Hong Kong, but the American invasion hit hard in late 2023. POP MART opened its first permanent U.S. store in California in September 2023, and by 2025, they’ve spread like wildfire:

37 staffed stores
52 vending machine “roboshops”
Online sales through TikTok live and Pop Mart’s U.S. site

States like California, New York, Texas, Georgia, and Florida are eating them up—and so is the resale market.

The Resale Madness

Let me give you some numbers:

Blind boxes: $10–$15 at retail
Rare editions: $300–$2,000+ on eBay
One custom edition: Sold for over $170,000 at auction in Beijing!

Yes, that’s a whole mortgage payment for a 6-inch forest imp with ears.

The thrill of opening a blind box and chasing that “secret” rare variant has collectors lining up, livestreaming pulls, and trading in Discord groups like it’s the new crypto.

Why the Obsession?

Blind Box Culture – You don’t know what you’re gonna get. It’s part gamble, part thrill.
Rarity + Scarcity – Limited releases, holiday editions, collabs. FOMO is driving the hype.
Social Media – TikTok and Xiaohongshu made them go viral. Think: unboxings, handbag charms, GRWMs featuring “my Labubu of the day.”
Cuteness + Creepiness – It rides the line between adorable and unsettling—and people love that.

So... Are They Demonic?

Some folks online—especially in conservative or religious spaces—have called them “demonic.” Let’s keep it real:

Yes, some Labubus have fangs, skeleton faces, or “dark-core” makeup.
Yes, some resemble monsters, ghosts, or traditional folklore spirits.
No, they’re not satanic.

They’re art toys—creations meant to explore fantasy, weirdness, and individuality. The creator, Kasing Lung, says Labubu is about imagination and storytelling, not anything evil.

It’s giving Coraline, not conjuring demons.

Celebrity Co-Signs

When celebrities get involved, the hype hits a new level. Stars like:

BLACKPINK’s Lisa
Kim Kardashian
Rihanna

...have been spotted rocking Labubu plushies as bag charms and accessories. The fashion crowd eats it up, and now luxury meets weird-core in a way only 2025 could deliver.

So is Labubu a toy? A flex? A vibe?

Honestly—it’s all of the above. What started as a niche art collectible is now a cultural phenomenon. It represents the weirdness, the playfulness, and the aesthetic thirst of Gen Z and younger Millennials. It’s cute. It’s creepy. It’s confusing. It’s capitalism.

Would I buy one? Maybe. But I’m not paying $900 for a rabbit with fangs in a tutu. Not today, Satan—or should I say, Labubu?